A Guide To Employment Laws In Morocco

Morocco attracts expat professionals from all over the world thanks to its stable and growing economy. Its proximity to Europe and low inflation rates are added benefits.

Some of the main sectors that drive the country’s economy include agriculture, textiles, tourism, construction, energy, and rock mining. Expats with expertise in technology, business management, and communications are also highly sought after. People from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia often work in international schools or English language institutes if they have the adequate certification.

Casablanca is home to a majority of the foreigners working in this country. Cities likes Rabat and Tangier also have a fairly large population of working expats.

The employment laws in Morocco are quite modern, having been inspired by the recommendations and conventions of the International Labor Organization.

People from certain countries, including the US, can enter Morocco without a visa. They are allowed to stay on for up to 90 days without a permit. If you don’t need an entry visa it is not mandatory for you to find a job before moving. However, when you apply for a residency visa, adequate proof of income or financial means will need to be submitted. It is therefore best for you to get a job soon after you relocate. To find out if your country has visa exemption for Morocco, visit http://www.moroccanconsulate.com/visa.cfm. If your country doesn’t feature in this list you’ll need to apply for the visa at the Moroccan consulate in your home country.

Finding a job in Morocco and getting the paperwork sorted can be quite a complicated and lengthy procedure. Below are some points and labor laws to keep in mind before you decide to look for or take up a job in Morocco.

Permits and paperwork

In order to start working in Morocco, foreigners must obtain a work permit (attestation de travail) from the National Agency for the Promotion and Employment of Skills (Agence Nationale de Promotion de l’Emploi et des Competences) more commonly known as ANAPEC. The documents required for getting a work permit include:

The procedure for obtaining the permits may take several weeks or even months. All applicants are advised to follow up regularly.

Salaries and wages

Morocco does not follow any specific legalized wage control norms except minimum wage. Therefore, employers and employees are free to decide the commercial terms of employment. Employees who draw a “salary” get paid once a month while those who earn “wages” must be paid twice a month.

Contracts

Employee contracts for all foreigners in Morocco must comply with the model contract that has been prepared by the Ministry of Labor. ANAPEC assesses the work contracts of all foreign nationals working in Morocco, to make sure that the terms and conditions conform to the employment laws. This entity also makes sure that foreigners are only hired if a particular vacancy cannot be filled by a Moroccan or a local resident.

Health and safety

Any firm employing more than 50 employees has to offer free medical services to everyone, including foreigners. They can also set up joint medical services with other companies. It is mandatory for all companies to meet the standard safety regulations in this country.

Social Security

In order to get Social Security, all employers have to register themselves as well as their employees with the National Fund. The system is called the Caisse National de Securite Sociale. It is mandatory for all Moroccan employers to participate in the program.

Holidays and paid leave

Most companies in Morocco operate 6 days a week. All employees are entitled to a day off after working for 6 days. Workers, including expats, are entitled to paid holidays calculated as 2 days for each month.

Language

While English is widely spoken all over the country, it is the third language in Morocco. For business purposes, French is mainly used, closely followed by Arabic. All expats hoping to seek a job in Morocco are strongly advised to learn basic French before making the move.

Hours

The working hours for employees working in commercial institutions shouldn’t exceed 8 hours a day, or 48 hours a week. An overtime amount is generally paid to workers who stretch their shifts.

Termination

An employment contract can be of limited or unlimited duration. The latter is usually terminated at the will of either party. All workers are entitled to a 1-month notice period, except in case they are being asked to leave because of a serious offence. Those who have worked with the same organization for more than a year are also eligible for compensation, which is proportionate to their tenure with the company.

Can we improve this article? Something wrong? Let us know in the comments.

Expat Health Insurance Partners

Our award-winning expatriate business provides health benefits to more than 650,000 members worldwide. In addition, we have helped develop world-class health systems for governments, corporations and providers around the world. We want to be the global leader in delivering world-class health solutions, making quality health care more accessible and empowering people to live healthier lives.

As the global healthcare specialists for AXA, the world’s number one insurance brand, we can help you get fast access to expert medical care, whenever and wherever you need it. All our plans include evacuation and repatriation, a second medical opinion service and extra support from a dedicated case manager if you’re diagnosed with cancer. You’ll also have 24/7 support from our caring multilingual team - we’ll always remember you’re a person, not a case number.

Bupa Global is one of the world’s largest international health insurers. We offer direct access to over 1.2m medical providers worldwide, and we settle directly with them so you don’t have to pay up front for your treatment. We provide access to leading specialists without the need to see your family doctor first and ensure that you have the same level of cover wherever you might be, home or away.

Cigna has worked in international health insurance for more than 30 years. Today, Cigna has over 71 million customer relationships around the world. Looking after them is an international workforce of 31,000 people, plus a network of over 1 million hospitals, physicians, clinics and health and wellness specialists worldwide, meaning you have easy access to treatment.